Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 233 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2025 Valid 12Z Sat Jan 11 2025 - 12Z Mon Jan 13 2025 ...A return to dangerous fire weather concerns for southern California beginning later today... ...Moderate to locally heavy snow for the parts of the northern to central Rockies... ...Below average high temperatures for much of the lower 48 this weekend after departure of southern Mid-Atlantic winter storm... A significant winter storm that brought widespread impacts to much of the South over the past couple of days will quickly move away from the East Coast this morning, leaving light snow showers in its wake for the central Appalachians and New England. High pressure and quieter weather will settle into locations east of the Mississippi River through Sunday morning but more rain is expected for the central Gulf Coast Sunday into Monday as low pressure organizes in the Gulf of Mexico, sending anomalous moisture northward. Temperatures will be cold today for the southern/southeastern U.S. with high temperature departures running 10 to 20 degrees below average. Below average temperatures will also extend into the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Northeast but Maine will be close to average for mid-January. Some moderation of the cold temperatures will occur for Sunday for the South and East, except for New England which will be near to above average. Out West, an upper level trough will continue to advance eastward from the central Rockies today with moderate to locally heavy snow showers continuing through Saturday night for northern sections of the Great Basin and northern/central Rockies in its wake via northwesterly to northerly flow behind the upper trough axis. Snow will continue near a strong frontal boundary in central Montana on Sunday but subside elsewhere across much of the West. By Monday morning, localized snowfall accumulations of 1 to 2 feet are expected for portions of central and southern Montana into the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. High Temperatures across the West will generally be below average this weekend while temperatures along the West Coast remain near average through the weekend. The exception to colder than average high temperatures for the lower 48 will be in and around the Upper Great Lakes which will lie on the warm side of low pressure tracking across the north-central U.S. with colder air filtering into the region behind the low on Monday. In southern California, a return to heightened fire weather conditions will return later today after a brief lull from Friday night. High pressure will increase across the Great Basin today as a surge of colder air moves into the region behind a cold front which is forecast to move into Mexico Sunday morning. Gusty offshore winds along the coast of southern California support a Critical Risk area for Saturday as highlighted by the Storm Prediction Center, with these dangerous conditions continuing into Monday. Otto Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php